IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 275 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/ 

AIDS Awareness Day. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 19, 2015 

Ms. BORDALLO (for herself, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. TED LIEU of California, 

Ms. LEE, Mr. HONDA, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. PIERLUISI, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. 

SMITH of Washington, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. SCHIFF, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Mrs. RADEWAGEN, and Mr. MCDERMOTT) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Asian and 

Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. 

Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing racial or ethnic groups in 

the United States and constitute diverse communities including more than 50 different ethnic sub-groups speaking more than 100 languages and dialects; 

Whereas the rates of HIV diagnoses for Asian Americans increased to 6.0 per 100,000 from 2009 through 2013, reflecting that Asian Americans were one of only two racial/ethnic groups in which rates increased; 


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•HRES 275 IH 

Whereas Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders had the 4th 

highest estimated rates of HIV diagnoses (12.7 per 

100,000 people) in the United States by race and ethnicity, from 2009 through 2013; 

Whereas recent CDC estimates indicate that among people 

living with HIV/AIDS, 22 percent of Asian Americans, 

and 27 percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, are unaware they are infected with HIV; 

Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have the highest percent of adults who have never 

been tested for HIV, as 7 in 10 have never been tested 

for HIV in 2012; 

Whereas 36 percent of HIV diagnoses among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders progressed 

to AIDS in less than 12 months in 2010; 

Whereas the CDC estimates that through 2013, 15,525 

Asian Americans and 1,311 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS; 

Whereas significant barriers remain for accessing culturally 

and linguistically competent services, especially HIV testing; 

Whereas HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination continues to 

be a growing problem in all communities, including the 

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander 

community; 

Whereas HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination increases risktaking behavior and prevents people from accessing the 

HIV/AIDS services and support they need; 

Whereas the National HIV/AIDS Strategy released in July 

2010 established the three primary goals of reducing 

HIV incidence, increasing access to care, and optimizing 


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•HRES 275 IH 

health outcomes and reducing HIV-related health disparities, including specific strategies focused on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations, 

such as targeted and disaggregated surveillance and stigma prevention efforts and interventions targeted to the 

men who have sex with men community; 

Whereas the development of the Minority AIDS Initiative in 

1998 to coordinate funding, capacity building, and prevention, care, and treatment services within AfricanAmerican, Hispanic, Asian American, Pacific Islander, 

and Native American communities has assisted with the 

development of leadership in minority community-based 

organizations, provided culturally and linguistically competent HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services, developed community capacity and infrastructure, 

promoted technical assistance and resources, and raised 

awareness among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and 

Pacific Islander communities; and 

Whereas, on May 19, 2015, community members from all 

ethnic groups will come together in recognition of the 

eleventh annual National Asian and Pacific Islander 

HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the observance of National Asian 

3 and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day to 

4 honor the memory of the estimated 3,477 Asian 

5 Americans and 361 Native Hawaiians and Pacific 

6 Islanders with HIV/AIDS in the United States who 

7 have died, through 2012, as well as the estimated 

8 11,075 Asian Americans and 883 Native Hawaiians 


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1 and Pacific Islanders who are still living with HIV, 

2 through 2012; 

3 (2) recognizes the importance of culturally and 

4 linguistically competent services as a core element in 

5 reducing HIV/AIDS rates in Asian American, Native 

6 Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities; 

7 (3) recognizes the importance of addressing the 

8 gaps in research and data in order to fully under9 stand the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Asian American, 

10 Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities; 

11 and 

12 (4) recognizes the people across the United 

13 States infected and affected by HIV/AIDS who are 

14 commemorating this day with community-wide ac15 tivities and who work to reduce the impact of HIV/ 

16 AIDS on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pa17 cific Islander communities across the United States 

18 and the United States affiliated Pacific Island juris19 dictions. 

Æ 


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